Air Force Chief Cites Concern About F-35 Operating Costs

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/09/18/business/18reuters-lockheed-fighter.html?hp

The top officer in the Air Force on Tuesday joined other Pentagon officials in raising questions about the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 program, saying the cost of building and operating the new single-engine fighter needed to come down.

General Mark Welsh said he was still learning about the F-35 program after taking over as Air Force Chief of Staff last month, but the new fighter clearly remained one of the Air Force's top acquisition priorities, along with a new Boeing Co refueling tanker and plans for a new long-range bomber.